Tornadoes Most Common in Spring – How to Stay Safe

It’s springtime, the time of year when tornadoes can spring up. April, May and June are the peak months for tornadoes in the United States, with April seeing on average 187 tornadoes during the month and the average for May as high as 275. The American Red Cross has steps everyone can take to help stay safe if one of these violent storms threatens.

According to experts, more than 1,200 tornadoes hit this country every year. Although tornadoes are most common in the Plains states, they can happen anywhere. Tornadoes can strike at any time of the year but happen more often during the spring and summer. They can also happen at any time of day but are most likely to occur between 3:00 and 9:00 p.m.

TORNADO SAFETY

• Know your community’s warning system. There are different ways to notify people about tornadoes. Many communities use sirens intended for outdoor warning purposes.

• Identify a safe place in your home to gather – a basement, storm cellar or interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.

• Move or secure items outside that can be picked up by the wind.

• If you live in a mobile home, find a safe place in a nearby sturdy building. NO MOBILE HOME IS SAFE IN A TORNADO.

• Know that a tornado watch means a tornado is possible. A tornado warning means a tornado is already occurring or will occur soon. IMMEDIATELY GO TO YOUR SAFE PLACE.

If you can’t walk to shelter, get into a vehicle and try to drive to a safe shelter.

If strong winds and debris are occurring, pull over and put your vehicle in park. Keep your seat belt on and engine running. Protect your head by leaning down below the windows, covering your head with your hands and a blanket or jacket.

Stay away from bridges and highway overpasses.

DOWNLOAD OUR APPS

Download the free Red Cross Emergency App to receive emergency alerts and information about what to do in case of flooding, as well as locations of open Red Cross shelters. Users can find it in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross, texting GETEMERGENCY to 90999 for a link to download the app or going to redcross.org/apps. Parents can also download the Red Cross Monster Guard: Prepare for Emergencies Appfor a fun game to teach children what to do in case of a disaster. People can also text MONSTER to 90999 for a link to download the Monster Guard App.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.